February 6, 2011

Dear Family and Friends, February 6, 2011

This week on Tuesday we held the monthly zone leaders council meeting here at the mission home quincho. The zone leaders are working hard to help their zones achieve the goals they set in December for the year 2011. It is a time of accountability for each companionship to hear how they are doing and share ideas and all work together to improve. It was so nice to hear testimonies being shared of things they are doing that are working. One elder said he has really realized the amazing difference it makes in the work when we truly are exactly obedient. Others talked about planning and using their time better and hard work and how it has helped them achieve more. That is the purpose of the councils- to come together and learn from each other and go back to the areas stronger and better and ready to help their zones do the same.

Wednesday the zone leaders were joined by the district leaders, trainers and all the sisters in the mission for more training. The sisters were added to the group because we received 4 sisters last change and will receive 4 more new sisters on Tuesday. The majority of our sisters are fairly young in the mission and they needed a little extra training to help them get their skill up quickly. There was teaching done on doctrine and principles but the majority of the time was spent in practices. They focused on sharing the Book of Mormon and how to get a lesson started quickly and efficiently. The practices really do help the missionaries prepare to be better teachers. One thing that is always encouraged is to have an investigator in mind so the practices often become very spiritual for all those involved. The teaching skills are practiced but revelation for how to help the investigators can also be received that way.

Thursday Mark interviewed a potential missionary from a district here. The Area Presidency is asking that the number of missionaries leaving from all the countries in our area increase so that is also a focus for President. We also took Elder Steren and Smith out to lunch. They have both been serving in the office. Elder Steren , as financial secretary, and Elder Smith as the secretary in charge of recording dates, records for baptism and anything else relating to a zillion reports that are constantly being requested. They have both done an amazing job in doing all the office work during the day and then out to teach and baptize at night. The will both go out to the field and bless whatever zone or district they go to.

Mark has been out teaching with the elders this week a couple times also. It really helps him see how the teaching is going and how individual missionaries are doing. All of that is useful information when planning the next zone conference.

The stake in Ciudad del Este has been working hard to help in the missionary work and wanted to have a large baptism for the stake. We drove out Saturday to attend a service for 11 people and there were more being held at other locations that weekend there. The whole chapel was full of missionaries, members, investigators and those being baptized. It was a great night. They had empanadas and chipa and a huge cake to help celebrate the happy event. Saturday was also Jacob our grandson’s 11^th birthday. We spoke to him that evening on the phone to wish him a happy birthday. He is growing up so fast and we know he will be ready in a few short years to be a great missionary!

Sunday we drove home by way of Yaguaron. The branch president there had eight people ready for interviews for the temple. Four of the members were prepared to receive their endowments and the others were renewing their recommends in preparation for a district temple trip on Saturday. Since Mark presides over the districts he interviews all members who are preparing to receive their endowment in the 5 districts here. While he interviewed I had fun chatting with two sisters who have served as local missionaries (members who serve for a short period of time when we have uneven numbers of missionaries) in our mission in the past. One is the Primary president and the other is a counselor in the Young Women. They are both 21 and are preparing to serve full time missions. We talked about how their organizations are doing and I also learned a lot about the education system here. They will both be good missionaries when they get their calls. One part of the process that really slows some people down here is just the basic knowledge of how to get the medical and dental requirements taken care of. Many of the leaders have not been through the process themselves or with other missionaries so they need a little advice and pushing to keep the process moving forward. The district was preparing to have a leadership training after we left which is always good to hear that they are working on training their leaders. In Yaguaron we also met a young couple who had been sealed in the temple a while back and had a beautiful month old baby. The members were happy to tell us that she is the first baby born in the covenant in that branch. There is progress being made and the people are growing in the gospel there.

It was a busy week and it would be nice to take a break- ha! Ha! We have 18 new missionaries coming Tuesday and 16 going home Thursday. Another busy week ahead! Oh well it all works out and some how we get most of what we are supposed to be doing done. The Lord is helping us daily. We know this missionary work is His work. We are grateful to be here doing what we can. The missionaries we have here are great and we love them! Have a great week ! Love, Mark and Sandy